Post-Colonial, Decolonial, and Indigenous Perspectives in Roald Dahl’s Fiction, The BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Abstract

This paper examines Roald Dahl’s The BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory through three distinct yet interconnected lenses: post-colonial, decolonial, and Indigenous perspectives. These stories may seem like light-hearted children’s fantasies. They also carry traces of the history and power dynamics of Britain’s colonial past.

From a post-colonial perspective, both books demonstrate how British culture once sought to define itself as superior. In The BFG, the giant’s playful, mixed-up language gently mocks the idea that “proper” English is the only correct way to speak. But the ending, where the Queen steps in to “fix” things, still leans on old colonial habits of control. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory also reflect this history. Willy Wonka’s vast chocolate empire depends on ingredients from far-off places, and the Oompa-Loompas are described in ways that echo the racial stereotypes and economic exploitation tied to colonial trade.

A decolonial view pushes the discussion further. It asks how these books might question Western ways of thinking altogether. Sophie and the BFG build a relationship based on trust and shared knowledge, suggesting that wisdom can grow from cooperation rather than hierarchy. Charlie’s journey to factory ownership might seem to celebrate capitalist success, but the factory’s magical inventions hint at other possibilities beyond profit and industry.

Finally, an Indigenous perspective focuses on land, resources, and the more-than-human world. The BFG’s dream-catching can be read as a reminder that non-human beings and the natural world hold their own stories. Meanwhile, the chocolate that fuels Wonka’s empire raises questions about farming practices, ecological balance, and respect for the earth—concerns central to many Indigenous traditions.

Together, these points show that Dahl’s novels don’t simply repeat old colonial ideas, but they also open imaginative doors to community, reciprocity, and new ways of seeing the world.